Road Trip from seattle

[violentlyserene]

My husband, two year old twins and I are driving from the Seattle area to Disneyland in late October. The Disney portion is all set and in at Howard Johnsons on the 18th and check out the Sunday after. The driving portion hasn't been decided yet. My husband is more excited about driving than Disney and will be doing most of the driving. He's on rotating nights and drives for a living and has made the trip a couple times before. he wants to start overnight and get to somewhere in northern ca to stop for a few hours for him to sleep and then drive more (possibly with another big stop after this). What's along the route to Disney that might make some interesting stops or breaks? Kid stuff or weird stuff like FDR or dinosaur shaped rocks, Sasquatch sighting spots, balls of twine, etc. giant redwoods and/or sequoias to stop for quick pictures would be good too. The date we leave isn't set so we can stretch things out if there are stops of interest. General road trip advice would be really welcome too. We have DVD players behind the front seats and both kids travel well and are pretty flexible but they are two.

 

[cedricandsophie]

Doesn't sound like you want to deive slowly enough to enjoy the trip! We hav done this drive. I really encourage you to enjoy the Oregon coast along the way. The coastal drive along oregon is incredible. Stop at canon beach to enjoy the wonderful beach and the big rock...Csnt remember the name. Just before canon beach is seaside which is a great little town with rides, a nice beach. Keep going down the coast and you will find the oregon aquarium which is an excellent aquarium. Florence Oregon is known for its sand dunes. You will also be close to Crater Lake in south Oregon which is incredible. Once over the California border, there is a beautiful redwood forest. And of course the further south you go the closer you are to wine country.

Then there is San Francisco! What's not to like there? Highly recommend the Disney family museum.

Going further south yiu can drive route 1 through Monterey...another great aquarium...and of course Carmel. Gorgeous little town. Fun to stop for lunch, explore and walk on the beach.

 

[bcla]

The main route down will be I-5. You're not really going to find that much other than major detours. Redwoods are going to be along the coast, which will eat up time. Giant sequoia are going to mean a major detour into the Sierra Nevada - maybe 4 hours extra driving plus the visiting time. That doesn't mean there's nothing close to I-5.

Quick stops that the kids might like that I can think of on I-5 are at Redding for the Sundial Bridge or Sacramento at Old Sacramento and the California State Railroad Museum. The Sundial Bridge and parking is basically free to visit, but there's a museum and garden complex called the Turtle Bay Exploration Park.

 

[usnuzuloose]

The main route down will be I-5. You're not really going to find that much other than major detours. Redwoods are going to be along the coast, which will eat up time. Giant sequoia are going to mean a major detour into the Sierra Nevada - maybe 4 hours extra driving plus the visiting time. That doesn't mean there's nothing close to I-5.

Quick stops that the kids might like that I can think of on I-5 are at Redding for the Sundial Bridge or Sacramento at Old Sacramento and the California State Railroad Museum. The Sundial Bridge and parking is basically free to visit, but there's a museum and garden complex called the Turtle Bay Exploration Park.

You can also ride the old train in Old Sac as well.

 

[violentlyserene]

The main route down will be I-5. You're not really going to find that much other than major detours. Redwoods are going to be along the coast, which will eat up time. Giant sequoia are going to mean a major detour into the Sierra Nevada - maybe 4 hours extra driving plus the visiting time. That doesn't mean there's nothing close to I-5.

Quick stops that the kids might like that I can think of on I-5 are at Redding for the Sundial Bridge or Sacramento at Old Sacramento and the California State Railroad Museum. The Sundial Bridge and parking is basically free to visit, but there's a museum and garden complex called the Turtle Bay Exploration Park.

I can live without the sequoias. 4 hours is a bit long. We are looking at Turtle Bay. Redding is about halfway so that might be a good place for a motel for the day and overnight. Any idea what traffic is like between there and Disneyland?

 

[usnuzuloose]

Are you coming down the I5?

 

[violentlyserene]

Yes we are. It'll be a Monday morning.

 

[bcla]

I can live without the sequoias. 4 hours is a bit long. We are looking at Turtle Bay. Redding is about halfway so that might be a good place for a motel for the day and overnight. Any idea what traffic is like between there and Disneyland?

The park closes at 5 for the museum and 7 for the garden. However, the bridge doesn't close at all and is lit at night. If you're coming in late, you could just visit the bridge. That's what I did my first visit. I actually went to Lassen Volcanic National Park for a day trip, checked out Lassen Mall, took in the bridge around 8 PM, and got home just after midnight.

I've visited the park. I think kids would like it, but it's not open evenings.

 

[violentlyserene]

The park closes at 5 for the museum and 7 for the garden. However, the bridge doesn't close at all and is lit at night. If you're coming in late, you could just visit the bridge. That's what I did my first visit. I actually went to Lassen Volcanic National Park for a day trip, checked out Lassen Mall, took in the bridge around 8 PM, and got home just after midnight.

I've visited the park. I think kids would like it, but it's not open evenings.

We wouldn't be going in the evening. We talked and the current plan is to leave home sat night, arrive in redding around 6 am sun get a motel for that day and night. I'd be occupying the kids while husband slept for the morning and we'd go do stuff together in the afternoon. The mall sounds promising for a morning activity if we need it.

Now we just need to figure out the best time to leave mon morning and how to survive the kids awake portion of the trip.

 

[bcla]

We wouldn't be going in the evening. We talked and the current plan is to leave home sat night, arrive in redding around 6 am sun get a motel for that day and night. I'd be occupying the kids while husband slept for the morning and we'd go do stuff together in the afternoon. The mall sounds promising for a morning activity if we need it.

Now we just need to figure out the best time to leave mon morning and how to survive the kids awake portion of the trip.

I guess the hard part would be finding a place that would let you check in that early. Granted I've taken a redeye flight and had to make an emergency lodging change where I checked in at 9 AM and was charged the same as if I'd checked in past the regular time. I know some hotels have a half-day rate although others would charge for a full day. There's also a matter of availability.

Turtle Bay Exploration Park is pretty fun, although I've only visited before I became a parent. I've got reciprocal membership from another museum, so we wouldn't need to pay.

If you have all day while your husband sleeps, then maybe Lassen Volcanic National Park. I'm not sure if the road will be open in October though. The kids might like Bumpass Hell. It's a pretty easy hike, but it is at high altitude.

Here's the route from Redding:

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Tur...9eb04d7fdbd23!2m2!1d-121.5010592!2d40.4581519

 

[violentlyserene]

Lassen park looks amazing.

A day motel shouldn't be a problem since I can make reservations for the night before or a day rate well beforehand.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Yes we are. It'll be a Monday morning.

The rush hour would always be around 6am to about 9am. Then there could be times you may run into accidents. So the good old catch 22.

 

[bcla]

Lassen park looks amazing.

A day motel shouldn't be a problem since I can make reservations for the night before or a day rate well beforehand.

It's a short trip from Redding. Not sure about snow, since it can but doesn't typically snow as early as October. Bumpass Hell is like Yellowstone Lite. No geysers but lots of similar features.